"March Madness" of another kind is coming to Groveport on March 29 when the Groveport Recreation Center hosts the "Battle of I-270" basketball tournament.
The tournament features eight men’s basketball teams made up of players age 18 and up who represent recreation leagues from around Central Ohio including Groveport, Powell, Grove City, New Albany, Upper Arlington, Grandview, Gahanna, and Dublin.
According to Groveport Recreation Center interim Sports and Fitness Manager Jeff Nagy, the teams representing the various communities were selected by their own recreation organizations based on "Who would represent their community the best."
Nagy said the team representing Groveport in the tournament is the Groveport Recreation Center’s Competitive League champion, Rooster’s, which finished the season with a record of 11-1.
"Rooster’s is good," said Nagy. "I’ve seen them play. They’re big, they’re fast, they run a lot. They’re up and down the floor. They’re also deep on their bench."
Added Groveport Recreation Center Facilities Supervisor Doug Carpenter, "They just run the daylights out of people."
Nagy said this is the second Battle of I-270 basketball tournament. The first was in Dublin last year.
"The Ohio Parks and Recreation Association (OPRA) organizes the tournaments with local rec centers," said Nagy.
"We’re hosting the tournament this year because it’s our turn," said Carpenter.
In addition to basketball, the OPRA also holds Battle of I-270 softball tournaments, the first of which was held last year in Grove City.
Nagy said the basketball tournament is a plus for Groveport.
"The tournament is something different and special for the rec center," said Nagy. "It will get people from other areas and rec centers to come and see what we have here at our nice, new facility and also to see our community," said Nagy.
The tournament will be held in the Groveport Recreation Center’s west gym. The first game tips off at 8:30 a.m. between Powell and Grove City followed by other first round match ups between New Albany and Upper Arlington, Groveport and Grandview, and Gahanna and Dublin. The winners then meet up in the second round followed by the championship game slated for 4 p.m. For information call (614) 836-1000.
